Track instrument.



G. A. GOOLIDGE.

TRACK INSTRUMENT. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 27, 1909 973,478. Patented 0 t.25,1910.

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CHARLES A. COOLIDGE, 0F PORTLAND, OREGON.

TRACK INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 25, 1910.

Application filed December 27, 1909. Serial No. 534,982.

, other signals.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical and reliable device of this character, which will be actuated by the flanges of the Wheels of a train passing in either direction, and which will have two distinct movements, one in a horizontal plane to operate the electrical contact of a signal to cause the latter to be set, and the other in a vertical plane to operate a second contact to cause the signal to be restored or the alarm to stop.

With the above, and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved track instrument showing it applied to a rail; Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2-2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail vertical section taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

In the drawing, 1 denotes a railway track rail and 2 the usual cross ties.

3 denotes a tongue or shoe adapted to be actuated by the flanges of the wheels of passing trains, and adapted to be moved in a horizontal plane by a train passing in one direction and to be moved in a vertical plane by a train passing in the opposite direction. This tongue has one end mounted on a hori zontal pivot 4 carried by a swinging head 5, which is in turn mounted on a vertical pivot 6 in an attaching plate 7 secured to one of the ties 2, see Fig. 1. Said tongue 3 is angular in shape, so that it has an inner portion 8 disposed at an angle to the rail 1 and an outer portion 9 disposed parallel with the rail. The inclined portion 8 is adapted to be engaged by the wheel flanges when a train passes in the direction of the arrow a Fig. 1, whereby the tongue will be swung horizontally on the pivot 6. The top of the portion 9 of the tongue is inclined downwardly] pressed.

slightly, as shown in Fig. 3, and it hasin its top surface a groove 10. Owing to this construction it will be seen that when a train passes in the direction of arrow 6, Fig. 1, the flanges of the car wheels will run in the groove 10 and will swing the tongue vertically 011 the pivot 4, and in a downward direction.

11 denotes a double stop carried by the free end of the tongue and adapted to limit both movements of the tongue. This stop is of U-shape and extends transversely un der the rail 1, its bottom portion 12 being adapted to engage the base of the rail to limit the upward movement of the tongue and its end 13 is adapted to engage the edge of one base flange of the rail to limit the movement of the tongue away from the rail. The other end of the stop 11 is suitably secured to the tongue.

The tongue 3 is balanced and returned to its elevated position after being depressed, by a coil spring 14 arranged beneath a transverse lever 15. The latter is bent longitudinally and has its other end mounted on a pivot 16 in a bracket 17 fixed to one corner of a supporting plate 18. The plate 18 is adapted to support electric circuit contacts and dash pots for retarding the return movement of the tongue 3, and it is of U-shape to set between two cross-ties, horizontal flanges 19 being provided on its opposite edges to rest on the tops of said crossties.

2O denotes a horizontally disposed dashpot to retard the quick return of the tongue 3 after it has been moved horizontally. This dash-pot contains a suitable make-and-break device 21 in an electric circuit of the crossing-alarm, the semaphore or other signal. The piston of the dash-pot has a projecting rod 22 actuated in one direction by a surrounding coil spring 23. rod 22 is an upright guide loop 24, the bottom ofwhich slides in a grooved guide-Way 25 on the plate 18. The loop 24 receives a pin 25 on the bifurcated end of an angular arm 26 projecting transversely from the tongue 3 and secured thereto as shown. This arm 26 connects the tongue to the piston rod and the loop or slot and pin connection allows the arm to have independent vertical movement.

27 denotes a second dash-pot arranged vertically and adapted to retard the quick return of the tongue 3 after it has been de This dash-pot contains a second On the end of the make-and-break device 28 of an electric circuit of the crossing-alarm, semaphore, etc, it being understood that the device 21 operates to sound the alarm or set the signal while the device 28 operates to stop the alarm or restore the signal. The piston of the dash-pot 27 has its rod 29 surrounded and actuated by a coil spring 30, and its upper end has a loose slot-and-pin connection 31 with the arm 26.

The dash-pots 20, 27 may be either of the pneumatic or liquid type and the provision of them accomplishes two results, namely, that of preventing the excessive series of blows by passing wheels of a rapidly moving train, and that of prolonging the time element of the electrical contact, thereby assuring that the signal is set or released.

In operation, when a train moves in the direction of arrow a and enters the block, the flange of the first wheel will move the tongue 3 horizontally to actuate the dashpot 20 and the make-and-break device 21, the latter causing the alarm to be sounded or the signal to be set. The dash-pot prevents the quick return of the tongue so that the succeeding wheels of the train will main tain the tongue away from the rail and consequently the crossing alarm will be continuously sounded or the setting of the signal will be assured. After the train has passed, the spring 23 will slowly restore the tongue to normal position. hen the train reaches the other end of the block, or the other side of the crossing, the other track device will be operated, but in this case the wheel flanges will depress the tongue to actuate the dash-pot 27 and the make-andbreak device 28. The latter resets the semaphore, or otherwise restores the signal or alarm. The springs 30 and 14: slowly reing disposed by the side of a track rail in the path of the flanges of car wheels, a spring actuated means for elevating said tongue, a horizontally disposed dash-pot having a slot and pin connection with said tongue, a vertically disposed dash-pot having a slot and pin connection with said tongue, alarm mechanisms, and means controlled by the movement of the tongue for actuating said alarm mechanisms.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a tongue disposed by the side of a track-rail in the path of the flanges of car wheels and mounted for independent swinging movements in horizontal and vertical planes, a spring actuated lever for elevating the tongue, a transverse arm projecting from the tongue, a horizontally disposed dash-pot having a slot and pin connection with said arm, a vertically disposed dashpot having a slot and pin connect-ion with said arm, and makeand-break devices actuated by said dash-pots.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES A. COOLIDGE.

\Vitnesses:

A. L. GAGE, C. H. STILL. 

